Cat owners often attribute their human emotions to their cats because they love them so much.Cats are outgoing, sensitive, smart, and cautious. Humans who have pet kittens are convinced that they can understand how their cats are feeling.Such conditions are very similar to our tendencies as humans as well. But do cats also have the same physical characteristics as us? For example, they get sick and tired like us. But what about hiccups?Although for us humans it is a normal occurrence that takes place but when a cat is hiccupping, how common is it for them? It is said that hiccups are usually more common in kittens than adult cats but like humans, it is common for cats to hiccup at any age or time. In this article we will be looking at various factors for a cat to hiccup like cat hiccups after drinking water, cat breathing like hiccups, cat hiccups and vomiting, cat twitching like hiccups, cat hiccups and sneezes, cat hiccups heart disease, sick kitten hiccups and many more! After reading all about cat hiccups, do read that can cats get colds and can cats get lice?What causes hiccups in cats?A hiccup occurs in a cat when its diaphragm contracts involuntarily at the same time as the glottis closes. It’s when irritation in the nerves (that runs in the diaphragm) occurs that these hiccups occur. Like human hiccups, the most common reason for a hiccup to be concerned with is eating food too fast or overeating.If you have ever noticed your cat eating, you may have seen how they don’t chew their food properly. Eating food too fast is a common cause related to hiccups. This causes a cat to swallow extra air which then results in spasms in the diaphragm. Apart from this, a cat is also said to hiccup when it’s feeling anxious. This is something that occurs in a human as well. Odd symptoms like hiccups will also occur when your cat is dealing with emotional distress like separation anxiety or discomfort. One type of common cause for a hiccup that only occurs in cats is hairballs. When a cat is grooming itself, it can ingest a hair or two since they use their tongues to clean their fur. This can cause irritation to a cat’s throat. The spasm can help in coughing up or loosening the fur. If you notice that your cat is hiccupping for quite some time, especially an older cat, then it could be a sign that something is wrong. It could be symptoms related to asthma, heart disease, tumor, foreign body ingestion, food allergies, and perhaps even parasites.How long should a cat’s hiccups last?Did you know the cat, Charles Osborne, had started to hiccup back in 1922 and didn’t stop till 1990? That is approximately 430 million hiccups and 68 years. Charles Osborne is currently the Guinness World Record holder for having the longest attack of hiccups.If you’ve ever heard a cat’s hiccups, you know it doesn’t sound anything like humans. A cat’s hiccup sounds like a subtle chirp or gulp sound to it. A cat’s hiccups can last a whole day and should be no more than that. They usually go away on their own. If you notice your cat hiccupping after eating a meal, it is mostly a sign of eating too fast or overeating, which should be monitored. The best solution to stop their hiccups would be to make them drink water. Brushing your cat’s hair regularly can lessen their hairball swallowing. Getting them an automatic feeder, puzzle feeder or keeping the wet food at the bottom of the bowl can help them to eat more slowly and make them less likely to ingest air and have hiccups.Remedies For A Cat’s HiccupsIf your cat is experiencing coughing or hiccups, they usually make a squeaking voice while they breathe. You can also notice a spasm visible in their abdomen. This is sometimes so slight that you may only be able to feel it. It may also sound like they’re having trouble breathing or something is caught in their throat.A cat hiccupping too fast is a normal thing and usually goes away on its own. This can simply cause them to swallow extra air that causes hiccups. It could be caused by them eating their food too fast. It could also be a sign of hairballs. Such hairballs can be checked for by a veterinarian. Bringing a video of your cat hiccupping can help your veterinarian understand whether it is normal or a chronic hiccups disease concerned with asthma, sudden anxiety, parasites, ingestion or muscle problems, allergies, hairballs, or even heart disease. Your veterinarian can determine the health of your cat by ruling out these factors.When To Be Concerned About A Cat’s HiccupsA cat hiccupping is usually normal as it occurs when they eat too fast or overeat. Hairballs are also a common cause for cats to have hiccups. It usually lasts not more than a day or less. If it lasts more than that, you should start concerning it.If you notice your older cat suddenly starting to hiccup more than usual, it may be a good idea to take them to the vet just to be safe. There may be some disease that has occurred that is causing the hiccups. Taking your cat to the vet can help tackle which disease it is and how to go about the treatment. If your cat has a habit of gulping its food, it is most likely the reason why your cat is hiccupping. Using a slow feeder bowl or feeding small multiple portions of food throughout the day can help with this situation. Your cat can also hiccup because of hairballs. In this situation, grooming the cat regularly, feeding them foods that are designed to reduce hairballs, and giving them an oral supplement like a laxative can help in letting the hairballs pass. If your cat seems sick and is hiccupping a lot, they are in need of help and contacting a vet would be a good way to figure out what happened to them.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for can cats get hiccups then why not take a look at can cats get mange or Sphynx cat facts.
Cat owners often attribute their human emotions to their cats because they love them so much.
